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Although many still associate SUVs with the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Tahoe from the mid-’90s to early ’00s, compact crossovers are the new sales leaders in today’s SUV field. As part of Alan Mulally’s “One Ford” initiative, the U.S. market got the good fortune of getting a version of the European Ford Kuga as the 2013 Escape. Compared to its predecessor, the new Escape is much more stylish and technologically advanced. No V-6 engines are offered, but with the top 2.0L EcoBoost offering 240 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, you won’t be missing those extra cylinders. With trims ranging from the basic rental fleet S trim all the way to the plush Titanium, there’s a trim for every budget and taste. Although it has slightly less cargo volume than the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, the Escape’s optional foot-actuated tailgate makes getting to that space easier than ever.

REVIEW

Dearborn's Mid-Trim Compact Crossover

Coverage of crossovers in Truck Trend tends to elicit a polarized response from readers, to say the least. Some faithful followers of the title say we should do pickups only and that SUVs, crossovers, vans, and other variations of utilitarian vehicles are just fluff and distractions. But, when you look at the overall market, aside from fullsize trucks and midsize sedans, compact crossovers are among the biggest sellers. So we feel it's only fair to give this significant segment some attention. In 2013, the Escape was Ford's second best-selling model behind only the F-Series trucks. To get a refresher on this bread-and-butter model for Ford, we got a 2014 Ford Escape SE equipped with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine, a good representative example of how many Escape models are equipped.

The fully-loaded Ford Escape Titanium rivals some luxury brands' crossovers in terms of equipment and features, with leather, heated memory seats, power tailgate, HID lights, and the usual assortment of expected premium features. Our tester was much more modestly-equipped, and it felt so. On its own, it was no penalty box, with driver-side power seat adjustment, Bluetooth hands-free calling and music streaming, and of course power windows and locks, keyless entry, satellite radio and automatic headlights. But compared to fully-loaded Escape models we've driven, our SE tester felt decidedly austere.

Over the past several years, Ford has been very aggressive in its application of its downsized EcoBoost turbocharged gasoline-direct-injection engines, and the Ford Escape is no exception. The rental-fleet staple S trim comes equipped with a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter I-4, but the bulk of SE models get the 1.6-liter Ford EcoBoost I-4, producing 178 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. That output puts it in the same ballpark as competitors' naturally-aspirated 2.4 and 2.5L engines, and likewise, acceleration is similar. Our tester did the 0-60 sprint in 8.2 seconds, about the same as Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4. Handling was slightly better than average at 0.81 g. Observed average fuel economy of 23 mpg was decent, but not remarkably better than what we've seen in competitive models. Only when compared to the robust power delivery of the 2.0 EcoBoost does the 1.6L leave you wanting more, with the larger engine having a 62hp and 86–lb-ft advantage.

The Escape's Euro-penned Kinetic styling still looks fresh and contemporary a year after its introduction but comes off as slightly busy from some angles. Like the Titanium, the SE has a dual rear-outlet exhaust, giving a little sportiness to this otherwise thoroughly mainstream crossover. The Escape shares its platform with the critically-acclaimed Focus compact, and much of the Focus' driving dynamics and personality also come through on the Escape with quick steering, good real-world grip, and responsive brakes. For buyers that need a crossover, but want the fun-to-drive feel of a compact, the Escape is a reasonable trade-off.

Although handsome and reasonably functional, the Ford Escape does fall a bit short of the class leaders in terms of total cargo volume, with a noticeably smaller cargo hold than the CR-V or RAV4. For most buyers, the Escape's cargo capacity should be more than sufficient, whether for diaper bags and strollers, or with the seats folded, outdoor gear and mountain bikes.

One option we'd definitely pop for on the SE is MyFord Touch. Ford's touchscreen variation of Sync has had its fair share of criticism from both journalists and consumers, but it is vastly preferable to the standard center stack of the Escape. Like with MyFord Touch, our primary gripe is not so much with the physical ergonomics of the design, but with the function. We had to manually re-sync our phone each time we got in the vehicle for Bluetooth music streaming to work, a feature that usually auto-connects when selected in most other recent models we've driven. Also, using the directional arrow controls to scroll through and select the functions in this non-touchscreen version of Sync is an exercise in frustration, not to mention a potentially dangerous driving distraction. We suggest only taking a deep dive into the Sync menu and its functions when parked.

Just as when it was introduced as a 2013 model, the Ford Escape is still a solid, if not flawless, entry in the cutthroat compact crossover segment. The cabin tech interface remains the most glaring shortcoming, an issue Ford is well aware of, and will surely address in a mid-cycle refresh of the Escape, likely coming for the 2016 model year. But the Escape's current combination of style, driving dynamics, and value make it easy to see why it's a best-selling model for Ford on multiple continents.

These little crossovers affirm automotive evolution through intelligent design.They also serve as the missing link for young families, filling the gap between a single life and a life of Little League games, ballet recitals, and PTA meetings.

2013 Ford Escape Titanium and Subaru Forester XT, two of our mainstreamers can be had with sufficient juice to hit 60 mph in the sixes, with handling upgrades to keep you smiling when the streets turn serpentine.

Ford is bringing to the 2012 SEMA show two 2013 Escape EcoBoosts along with the previously announced Focuses and Fusions. The two Fusions are both powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, but otherwise, have very different themes.

Highlighting the growing divergence between the pickup and SUV segments, sales of sport-utility and crossover vehicles maintained a strong pace for September, compared to the tepid performance of the pickup segment.

The dominant theme for the better part of 2012 in SUV sales was the Honda CR-V's unchallenged sales supremacy in SUVs. But following the introduction of the all-new 2013 Ford Escape, with the Escape edging out the CR-V to take the top spot for the last three months.

Ford Escape vs. Honda CR-V vs. Kia Sportage vs. Mazda CX-5 vs. Volkswagen Tiguan -- Whether we like it or not, crossovers are here to stay, while the body-on-frame SUVs that we know and love are never going to enjoy the same mass-market appeal they once had.

We finally have a release date for the next generation Ford Escape. Ford has sneakily announced that the EcoBoost-powered Escape will make its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, in a press release about paint colors, of all things.

Ford announced that its year-over-year sales for May are up 22 percent from 2009, marking the sixth straight month that the automaker has posted sales gains of over 20 percent. In April, Ford posted a year-over-year gain of 25 percent.

The 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid and its sister vehicle, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, will be using a smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery with 20-percent more power sourced from the development of the Ford Fusion Hybrid/Mercury Milan Hybrid.

2010 Ford Escape Getting Five New Safety Features - The Escape and Escape Hybrid will be packed with five more technologies aimed at minimizing driver distraction and keeping passengers safer in all situations.

KBB has released their picks for their "Best New Family Vehicles List", which includes four hybrids and a diesel. Representing the larger vehicle segment from the list are the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid, 2009 Toyota RAV4, 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 2009 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, 2009 Chevy Traverse, and

The Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade (MTBOT), which represents the cab drivers and passengers of New York City taxi cabs, has filed a lawsuit to stop a law that would require all NYC taxi cabs to get 25 mpg starting October 1.

Word comes today that the Ford Escape Hybrid/Mercury Mariner Hybrid has surpassed Toyota's Highlander Hybrid and the Toyota Prius in crash test ratings. The Escape/Mariner, in both normal and hybrid forms, have received a best-in-class five-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic S

Today's buyers even have a variety of gas-electric SUVs to choose from -- or at least they would, if any were available. It turns out that as demand for hybrid SUVs rises, the vehicles are becoming pretty hard to find.

Ford continues testing and development of its Escape plug-in hybrids -- this month the automaker will let more of its 20 PHEV fleet loose on the grounds of Southern California Edison. The first Ford Escape PHEV was delivered to SCE last December.

Given the fierce negative reaction the Detroit Three CEOs were treated to after their last private jet trip to Washington, it was a given they'd be taking some other form of transportation from Detroit to D.C. this time around for their meetings this week on Capitol Hill. Mulally's chariot of choice

Ford continues testing and development of its Escape plug-in hybrids -- this month the automaker will let more of its 20 PHEV fleet loose on the grounds of Southern California Edison. The first Ford Escape PHEV was delivered to SCE last December.

With the 2008 Presidential campaign in full swing, Ford is touting the fact that the Escape Hybrid is the "candidate's choice" for transportation, whether at home or on the campaign trail, in ads on Capitol Hill.

Ford's award-winning 30-second Super Bowl spot featuring Kermit the Frog* celebrated the environmental benefits of the Ford Escape Hybrid and the ease in which consumers can access this fuel-efficient technology.

Two opposing automotive truths have emerged in the past decade. One: The sport/utility craze won't go away. Two: As long as SUVs are around, the most strident, politically correct tree huggers will complain that SUVs are wasteful of most things automotive, responsible for shaky oil reserves, global

A recall has begun on 2001-2004 Ford Escapes. The compact SUV became the subject of an NHTSA investigation earlier this month -- the new recall includes 423,634 vehicles in the U.S. plus about 60,000 additional vehicles outside the U.S.

There's a lot to be said for the sound and feel of a high-revving engine accompanied by a few choice power shifts, or for that matter the visceral thrill of 10 cylinders motivating a scorching straight-line launch.

Following the death of an Arizona teenager, 99 consumer complaints, and 13 crashes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating approximately 730,000 2002-2004 Ford Escape and platform-mate Mazda Tribute models for unintended acceleration, according to a report from Bloomber